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Report from an
ad hoc group meeting in Riga,
29th of April 1999
List of participiants
Bishop Biörn Fjärstedt, the Church of Sweden, Visby
Mrs Elena Speranskaya, the Russion Orthodox Church, Moscow
Bishop Rimantas Norvila, the Roman Catholic Church in Lithuania,
Kaunas
Bishop Erik Vikström, the Church of Finland, Borgå
Bishop Jonas Jonsson, the Church of Sweden, Strängnäs
Pastor Erberts Bikse, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia,
Riga
Dean Ragnar Svenserud, the Church of Sweden, Visby
In the inter-church
conference THEOBALT IV in Visby in June 1998 the participants agreed
to continue the work to develop a church network around the Baltic
Sea. It was delegated to the diocese of Visby to carry on such a
project. At a meeting in Riga an ad hoc group with representatives
from Orthodox, Roman-Catholic and Lutheran churches met to formulate
the fundaments for a Baltic Church Network. The purpose was defined
and possible activities and prerequisites were listed. Finally the
next steps were decided.
LOOKING BACK ………
THEOBALT is an ecclesiastic
conference program initiated and run by the diocese of Visby, Church
of Sweden. The purpose is from the beginning twofold - to promote
Christian fellowship around the Baltic with the possibility to learn
about each other´s traditions and to offer a platform for theological
deliberations applied on current social issues.
In June 1998 the fourth Theobalt
conference was held in Visby on the island of Gotland. All countries
bordering the Baltic were represented with approximately 70 participants
from Orthodox, Roman-catholic and Lutheran churches – clergy as
well as laymen. One important element of the conference was the
reflection on the future development of THEOBALT. No formal decisions
were taken, but there was a unanimous conclusion that the establishment
of an ecclesiatic network around the Baltic is a matter of priority.
It was also delegated to the diocese of Visby to carry on the co-ordination
of this task in consultation with other churches.
WHERE WE STAND ………..
A first step to develop
the THEOBALT concept in accordance with the principles expressed
in Visby was taken on the 29th of April this year.
No formal instructions had been given how to proceed with the
work, so in order to start it up an ad hoc- group was summoned
to meet in Riga. Two purposes were at hand, firstly to evaluate
activities and experiences up till now including the last conference
and – secondly – from that lay down the general principles for
the future work and fellowship.
In consequence with the
established ecclesiastical pattern of THEOBALT, one representative
from each of the three old church traditions in the area were
invited. The meeting took place in the premises of the consistory
of the Lutheran Church of Latvia. A summing up around the table
gave some basic conclusions for further actions:
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the Baltic area offers a natural
Christian meeting place through the presence of the three
old church traditions historically and today. This invites
us to develop a Christian fellowship making the Baltic a "Mare
ecumenicum" |
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there is a need for informal meeting-places
functioning with a minimum of administration |
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"confessional friendship"
could be an effective instrument to prevent conflicts between
peoples |
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eccological aspects must be given
high priority on the agenda of a church network |
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the Theobalt conferences can serve
as a structure for the churches in forming a church network
around the Baltic. At THEOBALT IV representatives from a majority
of the churches expressed a mutual vision in this direction
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the island
of Gotland offers many good requirements making it suitable
as a geographical base for a network and place for meetings
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The participants of the
meeting in Riga agreed to continue the work to promote the THEOBALT
concept (Theology in the Baltic region) with the purpose to establish
a Baltic Church Network based on the following principles:
1. Informal structure
The network character is
important and should be maintained. Churches involved could set
up a standing committée for planning and implementation of activities.
Necessary administration is handled by the diocese of Visby within
the frame of its ordinary work for interchurch relations.
2. Purpose
As a Baltic Church
Network THEOBALT is defined as follows: A network between churches
around the Baltic Sea
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to further mutual
understanding and strengthen relations between the three main
Christian traditions |
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in order to develop the contribution of churches
to the life and culture of the nations and to the protection
of the common environment |
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and to
promote Christian values, reconciliation, democracy and peace
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Whatever
is done within the frame of the network should have a Baltic
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3. Activities
Conferences similar to
the ones up till now should be performed with intervals of 3 –
5 years in order to assemble representatives from the Baltic churches
for deliberations on current theological topics. Other conferences,
seminars and special meetings could be arranged depending on matters
of immediate interest in wider or smaller circles.
Exchange between parishes,
parishworkers and students are possibilities in the long-run pespective.
Electronic communication is an asset with dynamic possibilities
for the network. This media can be used for exchange of information
concerning arrangements, adresses and news from the churches etc.
Electronic conferences and ’general chatting’ are special possibilties
within this concept.
With a home page for THEOBALT
the network will also open up to people in general making it possible
for individual Christians to make contacts with each other across
borders. Furthermore links to other networks - for example within
the individual churches - can be established.
NEXT
STEPS
Together
with the THEOBALT IV report a letter of information is sent to all
leaders of the Orthodox, Roman-Catholic and Lutheran churches of
the region describing the prerequisites and plans so far for the
network. Views and suggestions are asked for.
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Another
meeting with the ad hoc group from Riga takes place on the
5th – 6th of February 2000 in Warsaw,
Poland. Representatives from the Roman-Catholic and Orthodox
church in Poland are invited to participate |
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A general
conference – THEOBALT V – shall be arranged in 2001
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A small
booklet describing the network THEOBALT should be produced
primarily for external information to organisations, authorities
and the public |
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A
web site for THEOBALT is produced by the diocese of Visby
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